Effects of a high-intensity functional exercise programme on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being among older people living in residential care facilities: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Conradsson, Mia

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå university.

Littbrand, Håkan

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå university.

Lindelöf, Nina

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå university.

Gustafson, Yngve

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå university.

Rosendahl, Erik

Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Health and Rehab.

Abstract [en]

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a high-intensity functional exercise programme on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being among older people dependent in activities of daily living (ADL) and living in residential care facilities. Method: Cluster-randomized controlled study. Participants were 191 older people, aged 65-100, dependent in ADL and with Mini Mental State Examination scores between 10 and 30. One-hundred (52%) of the participants had a diagnosed dementia disorder. A high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise programme and a control activity were performed in groups. Sessions were held five times over each two week period for three months, a total of 29 times. The outcome measures, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS) were blindly assessed at baseline, three and six months. Results: At baseline, mean ± SD (range) for GDS was 4.4±3.2 (0-14), and for PGCMS 11.0±3.5 (2-17). There were no significant differences in GDS or PGCMS between the exercise and the control group at the three and six month follow-ups in the total sample. Among people with dementia, there was a between-group difference at three months in PGCMS scores in favour of the exercise group. Conclusion: A high-intensity functional exercise programme seems generally not to influence depressive symptoms or psychological well-being among older people dependent in ADL and living in residential care facilities. An individualized and multifactorial intervention may be needed in this group. However, an exercise programme as a single intervention may have a short-term effect on well-being among people with dementia